Camera-back.



J. D. MBGOWN.

CAMERA BACK.

APPLICATION HLBD APR. z5. 1913.

Patented July 21, 1914.

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J. D. MBGOWN.

CAMERA BACK.

APPLICATION FILED APR. z5. 1913.

Patented July 21, 1914.

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CAMERA-BACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1914.

Application led April 25, 1918. Serial No. 768,669.

struction of camera backs such are adapted to be employed in connectionwith plate holders or .ilm packs, the object of the invention being toprovide a camera back which embodies novel features of constructionwhereby 'proper adjustment can be readily made to accommodatediierentsizes of plate holders or iilmpacks as may be desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a camera back which isformed with a series of nested frames which may be quickly assembled orremoved as may be necessary to adapt the camera back for use inconnection with the various. sizes of plate holders and film packs.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adaptable camera backwhich can be readily applied to any conventional form of camera, whichcan be quickly adjusted to receive any` of the various sizes of plateholders or film packs, and which does not interfere in any manner withthe focusing 'or adjustment of the camera.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fullyappear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis arear elevation of the adaptable camera back showing the nested frames orsections as assembled to receive a small size of plate holder or iilmpack, the ground glass frame being partially removed and a plate holderbeing shown by dotted-lines in the position assumed when it is about tobe inserted in the camera back. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough the camera back, a plate holder being shown in Iposition bydotted lines. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the camera.

back, a plate holder being shown in position by dotted lines. Fig. 4 isan elevation of the inner face of the camera back, all of the framesbeing assembled to admit of the ca mera back being employed inconnection wlth a small size of plateholder, and portionsbeing brokenaway to show one of the locking slides of the nested frames, and Fig. 51s a detail perspective view of the smaller nested frame.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in lthe followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

Specifically describing' the present embodiment of the invention, thenumeral 1 designates the main frame of the camera back which is Vadaptedto be fitted to the rear of an ordinary camera in any suitable manner. Aground glass frame 2 is yieldably mounted at the rear of the main frameof the camera back and is adapted to serve 1n the usual manner as aclampingv member to hold the plate holder in position a ainst the cameraback while an exposure is eing made. The usual ground glass 3 is ittedwithin the ground glass frame 2, and the longitudinal edges of the saidground glass frame are formed with flanges 4 which are slidably receivedwithin channel bars 5 which are yieldably connected to the main frame 1of the camera back by the conventional springs 6. lVhen the plate holderis not in position, the springs 6 hold the ground glass frame 2 closelyagainst the main frame 1 so that the camera can be focused in the usualmanner, and when the plate holder is inserted in position the groundglass frame acts as a clamping mem ber to hold the same irmly inposition while the exposure is being made.

The main frame 1 is of such a size as to accommodate the largest size ofplate holder or film pack which can .be used in connection with thecamera. ln the present instance it may be assumed that the main frame 1is of such a size as to accommodate an 8x10 plate holder, the back ofthe main frame 1 being provided upon three sides thereof with a groove 7`adapted to receive felt or other suitable material to tit against thesidesof the 8X10 plate holder and provide a light proof joint. Thefourth side of the main frame 1 is provided with the usual depression orgroove 8 adapted to receive the rib at the outer end of the plateholder.

The opening of the main frame 1 is rabbeted at the inner face thereof asindicated at 9 so as to-receive a flange 10 of a frame 11 which isadapted to be detachably fitted within the main frame 1. One end of thisremovable frame 11 is provided with the positioning pins 12 which areadapted to engagp corresponding sockets in the main frame 1, while theopposite end of the removable frame 11 is provided with a pair ofsliding latches' 13 which can be moved into and out of engagement withsuitable recesses in the main frame 1. This removable frame 11 isadapted to be ap lied to the main frame 1 for the purpose o adapting thesame to the next smaller size of plate holder'. In the present instanceit may be assumed that the frame 11 is of such'a size as to accommodatela 6}x81} plate holder, the back of the frame being provided upon threesides thereof with a positioning rib 14, and upon the fourth Sidethereof with a groove 15 adapted to receive theusual rib at the outerend of the plate holder.

The openin of the removable frame 11 is rabbeted at t e inner sidethereof as indicated at 16 to receive the flange 17 of a secondremovable frame 18 which is of such a size as to receive a still smallerplate holder. One end of the frame 18 is provided with suitable shoes 19adapted to fit under and engage the projecting ends of retaining fingers20 upon the frame 11, while the opposite end of the frame 18' isprovided with sliding latches 21 correspondin to the latches 13 of theframe 11 and a apted to engage suitable recesses in the frame 11. In thepresent instance it may be assumed that this second removable frame 18is of such a size as to accommodate a 5x7 plate holder, the rear face ofthe said frame being provided upon three sides thereof with thepositionin rib 22 and upon the fourth side thereof witli the groove 23adapted to receive theusual rib of the plate holder. In Fig. 1 a 4x5plate holder is shown by dotted lines in the position assumed when aboutto be inserted in the camera back, While in Fig. 3 the position of theplate holder when applied to the camera back is indicated by dottedlines.

The openin of the second removable frame 18 is rab eted at the innerface thereof as indicated at 24 to receive the flange 25 of a thirdremovable frame 26, the said frame being adapted to receive a smallersize of late holder than the before mentioned rame 18. One end of theframe 26 is provided with a shoe 27 adapted to fit under and engage theprojecting end of a retaining finger 28 upon the frame 18, while theopposite end of the frame 26 is provided with sliding latches 29 similarto the latches 21 of the frame 18 and adapted to engage suitablerecesses in the said frame 18. The construction of the latches 29 isshown more clearly by Fig. 4, and it will be observed that suitablemeans such as the in and slot arrangement 30 is provided. or limitingthe slidlng movement of the latches. This third removable frame 26 maybe of such a size as to accommodate a 4x5 plate holder, the back of theframe being provided upon three sides thereof with the positioning rib31 and upon the fourth side thereof with the usual groove 32 adapted toreceive the rib at the outer end of the plate holder.

The round glass frame 2 is slidably mounte within the channel bars 5 andcan be properly adjusted so as to admit of access being readily had tothe outer ends of the various sizes of plate holders for the purpose ofremoving and replacing slides thereof when making an exposure. Asuitable latch member 37 is provided at one side of the ground glassframe 2, the said latch belng adapted to engage any selected one of thenotches 33, 34, 35 and 36 in the edge of the adjacent channel bar 5.When the camera back is employed in connection with the largest size ofplate holder, in the present an 8x10 plate holder, the latch 32 iscaused to engage the notch 33. Should the camera back be employed inconnection with a 61x81v plate holder', the latch 37 would bebroughtinto engagement with the notch 34, while for a 5x7 plate holderthe latch would be caused' to engage the notch 35, and for a 4x5 plateholder the latch would be caused to engage the notch 36. It will thus beobvious that the ground glass frame 2 is moved longitudinally when thesmaller sizes of plate holders are employed so that the outer endportion of the late holder will always be exposed a su cient amount toadmit of the o erator withdrawing and replacing the sli es of the lateholder in the usual manner without di culty. It will be readilyappreciated that without this provision for the longitudinal adjustmentof the ground glass frame 2 it would be very difficult to Withdraw theslides from the smaller sizes of plate holders without disturbing theposition of the same.

In the operation of the device the nested frames 11, 17 and 26 can. beassembled or removed as may be necessary to accommodate the desired sizeof plate holder, and the ground glass frame 2 then correspondinglyadjusted in the channel bars 5. The camera is then ready to be used inthe ordinary manner and the adjustment of the back does not interferewith the focusing of the camera or the usual manner of operating thesame.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An adaptable camera back including a series of nested frames adaptedto be employed in connection with different sizes of plate holders, anda laterally adjustable clamping frame.

2. An adaptable camera back includin a main frame, a series of removablelusly nested frames fitted Within the main frame, each of the nestedframes being provided at one side thereof with positioning means and atthe opposite side thereof with a latch member, the various nested framesbeing adapted to be employed with different sizes of plate holders, anda slidably mounted clamping frame adapted to ooperate with the mainframe and any selected one of the nested frames.

3. An adaptable camera back including a main frame provided with arabbeted opening, a series of flanged frames nested within each otherand the main frame, the flange of the largest nested frame engaging therabbeted portion of the main frame while each of the other nested framesis rabbeted to receive the flange of the next smaller frame, the variousframes being provided with positioning means for engaging differentsizes of plate holders, latch means for retaining the nested frames inposition, and

a slidably mounted clamping frame adapted to be employed in connectionwith the main frame and a selected one of the nested frames.

4. An adaptable camera back including a main frame, a series of nestedframes applied to the main frame and adapted to be employed inconnection with different sizes of plate holders, channel bars having ayielding connection with the main frame, and a clamping frame slidablymounted between the channel bars.

5. An adaptable camera back including a main frame, a series of nestedframes applied to the main frame and adapted to be 6. An adaptablecamera back including a main frame, a series of nested frames applied tothe main frame and adapted to be employed in .connection with. differentsizes of plate holders, a pair of guide bars yieldably connected to themam frame, anda clamping frame slidably mounted upon the guide bars andadapted to be adjusted upon p the guide bars according to the size ofplate holder which is being used.

7 An adaptable camera back including a main frame formed with a rabbetedopening, a series of flanged frames nested within each other and themain frame and each provided with positioning means for engaging adiierent size of plate holder, the flange of the larger nested framebeing received within the rabbeted opening of the main frame while eachof the larger nested frames is rabbeted to receive the flange of thenext smaller frame, means for retaining the nested frames in position, apair of guide bars having a yieldable connection to the main frame, anda clamping frame slidably mounted upon the guide bars and adapted to beadjusted thereon according to the size of plate holder being used.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

JOHN D. MEGOWN. Witnesses:

AGNES A. JOHNSTON, CHESTER M, BOYD.

